Moore taken first by Minnesota in WNBA Draft

Moore taken first by Minnesota in WNBA Draft

April 11th, 2011 in News

Connecticut's Maya Moore talks with fans in Minnesota via the Internet after being chosen by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA basketball draft in Bristol, Conn., Monday, April 11, 2011.

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) - Maya Moore is used to winning titles at Connecticut.

Now she's ready to bring that same mentality to her new team - the Minnesota Lynx, who took her with the first pick Monday in the WNBA Draft.

"Every year the goal is a championship," the former Jefferson City resident said. "That's what I expect. I go on to every team expecting to win a championship, especially with the amount of talent we have. I don't want to limit to the playoffs, I want to win a championship."

She helped UConn win a record 90-straight games during one stretch over the past two seasons, and also led the school to two national championships in her stellar four-year career.

Her selection as No. 1 wasn't much of a surprise.

"It feels really great to finally be able to have the moment of being drafted No. 1," Moore said. "All the hype and excitement around it."

Moore was followed in the draft by Elizabeth Cambage of Australia (Tulsa), Courtney Vandersloot of Gonzaga (Chicago), Amber Harris of Xavier (Minnesota) and Jantel Lavender of Ohio State (Los Angeles).

Moore, a four-time All-American, averaged 22.8 points this season. She was also the only collegian to play on the U.S. women's national team that won gold at the world championships last October.

The two-time AP player of the year is used to having a lot of pressure put on her.

"I think I live in the land of high expectations after playing at Connecticut," Moore said.

She is also the second straight UConn player to be taken with the first pick in the draft, and fourth overall. Tina Charles went to the Connecticut Sun last season and earned the league's rookie of the year award.